Packing tape binding machine

ABSTRACT

A packing tape binding machine has a pressing device for pressing one end portion of the tape against the upper surface of a base plate, a heater for fusing, and an elevating body for holding the other end portion of the tape on said fusing heater and severing said tape while pressing the other end portion of the tape as it is cut on the one end portion of the tape positioned on the base plate. A tape winder is driven by a handle for winding the tape on a packing. A rack-driven tape welding heater for melting the opposed upper and lower surfaces of the end portions of the tape is provided which can be advanced between the upper and lower end portions of the tape as the elevating body commences to descend when severing the other end portion of the tape and then withdrawn, the movement of the heater being controlled by a timer.

United States Patent Takami [4 1 Aug. 28, 1973 PACKING TAPE BINDING MACHINE [5'1] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Masaho Takami, 1-15, Aza Kitaura,

Nishi Tomatsu, Amagasaki, Japan A packing tape binding machine has a pressing device 4 for pressing'one end portion of the tape against the [22] Flled' May 1971 upper surface of a base plate, a heater for fusing, and [21] Appl. No.: 141,158 an elevating body for holding the other end portion of the tape on said fusing heater and severing said tape [52] U Cl 156/366 156/502 156/506 while pressing the other end portion of the tape as it is 5 l 1 5 31/00 cut on the one end portion of the tape positioned on the [58], Fieid 502 506 base plate. A tape winder is driven by a handle for winding the tape on a packing. A rack-driven tape [56] Reterences Cited welding heater for melting .the opposed upper and lower surfaces of the end portions of the tape is pro- UNXTED STA TES PATENTS vided which can be advanced between the upper and 3,136,678 6/1964 Hegzng 156/326 lower d rtions of the tape as the elevating body G et a commences to descend when severing the other end gang 9; 1971 545 portion of the tape and then withdrawn, the movement Primary Examiner-Norman G. Torchin Assistant ExaminerEdward C. Kimlin Attorney-Wenderoth, Lind '& Pon ack of the heater being controlled by' a timer;

- 9 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,755,045

6 Shoots-Shut 1 HIM MASAHO TAKAMI INVENTOR.

MMLiJLIM ATTORNEYS Patented .Afig'. 28,1973.

' 6 Shoots-Shoot 2 MASAHO TAKAMI,

INVENTOR.

aJMdL ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,755,045

6 Shoots-Sheet 3 Fllij 1a MASAHO TAKAMI INVENTOR.

ILM iii/11ml ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,755,045

6 Sheets-Sheet 4 MASAHO TAKAMI INVENTOR.

YMMCZJM ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 28,1973

6 Shouts-Sheet 5 MASAHO TAKAMI mvsmoa Maul/4M1 ATTORNEYS Patented A\ |g.28,1 973 7 3,155,045

6 Shoots-Shoot 6 MASAHO TAKAMI INVENTOR.

waum' ATTORNEYS l PACKING TAPE BINDING MACHINE This invention pertains to a packing tape binding machine which binds a thermal plastic synthetic resin tape such as polypropylane wound on the outside of a package and then heat-welds both ends thereof together, and more particularly to a time adjusting device for tape welding capable of freely adjusting the heating time of the tape to be welded.

A packing machine is wellv known, which puts both ends of a tape wound around a package over each other and heatmelts the surfaces of the tape facing each other with a heater interposed therebetween. The melted surfaces are then welded by pressing to make a strong joint. With a conventional packing machine as abovementioned, however, as the time for melting the surfaces to be heat-melted with a heater is constant, it is unsuitable for welding a tape, the thickness of which varies from a given thickness. That is, when heating a tape thinner than a given thickness, it would be melted excessively and the welded portion of the tape may be weakened, andwhen heating a thicker tape, as melting is imperfect, the strength of the welded portion is weaker than the tape.

Therefore, heretofore, a variety of packing machines corresponding to the tape to be used have been prepared and a packing machine corresponding to each type was used respectively. As a result, operation became very complicated and operating efficiency was reduced thereby increasing packing costs.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine which can solve the defects of the conventional machines by providing an adjustment means for adjusting the heating time of the tape ends so as to meet with the thickness of any tape.

. A second object of this invention is to provide a means to make the adjustment to the heat-melting time which is simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

A third object of this invention is to ensure weld of the tape by holding the ends of the tape together in the device during the melting time. I

These and other objects are accomplished by the improvement, combination and operation of the parts constituting the invention, and embodiments of which will be illustrated with the accompanying drawing and the detailed explanation described hereinafter.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the same, partially longitudinally sectioned,

FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the disassembled handle portion of the same,

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a second embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the same,

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the same, partially longitudinally sectioned,

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of a part adjacentthe adjusting device used in the second embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 9 is a side view of the same,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the adjusting device,

FIG. 1] is an oblique view of the disassembled inner device of the same, partially broken,

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a third embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing the essential portions of the same,

FIG. 14 is an oblique view showing an essential portion of a tape holding means.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, 11 is a base plate,l2 is a pressing roll having knurls on the outside thereof. Roll 12' is rotatably mounted on an eccentric shaft disposed in the rotary body mounted on the supporting portion and may be turned with the handle 13. Ratchet mechanism 14 allows roll 12 to turn only in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1.

On the upper side of the base plate 1 1 is fixed the vertical wall 15. On the guide frame 20 disposed in the intermediate portion of this wall 15 is disposed a vertically movable elevating body 16 which serves to both press and cut the tape. On the rear side of said wall 15 is rotatably disposed the operating handle 17 of said press head 16.

At the side of said guide frame 20 on the wall 15" is rotatably mounted a tape winder l8. In this winder 18 isformed the cross-shaped tape inserting groove 19.

Said winder 18 is formed integrally with the front end of the main shaft 21 mounted rotatably between said wall 15 and the bearing 134 secured on the base plate 11 at the rear thereof. At the rear end of this main shaft is disposed the handle 23 through the ratchet mechanism 22. When the handle 23 is reciprocated transversely, the winder 18 is turned only in the direction of arrow in FIG. 1. In the intermediate of the main shaft 21 is secured the bearing plate 24 to be positioned at the rear of the bearing 134. In the space between this bearing plate 24 and the bearing 134, between a plurality of recessed holes formed on the rear side of the annular resistance plate 25 fitted loosely on the shaft 21 and a plurality of recessed holes formed on the front side of the bearing plate 24 are interposed the coil springs 26. As a result, annular friction plate 27 at the front side of said resistance plate 25 is pressed against the rear side of the bearing 134 by the springs 26 and thereby a suitable resistance is afforded to the rotation of the main shaft 21. i

A boss portion 28, integral with said handle 17, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 secured between the wall 15 and the bearing 29 at the rear side thereof. In addition, a turning force in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 is given to the handle 17 by the coil spring 38 as shown in FIG. 4. At the rear side of said elevating body 16 is formed an engaging recess 31 as shown in FIG. 4. Pin 32 disposed at the front side of said boss portion 28 is fitted loosely in the arc-shaped oblong hole 33 and in said recess 31. The press head 16 can 16 is be moved vertically with the pin 32 fitted loosely in said recess 31 by turning the operating handle 17, and also the press head 16 is always pressed down by the pressing spring 34 disposed between the press head 16 and the top plate of the guide frame 20.

On said shaft 30 is loosely fitted the gear 35 between the boss portion 28 and the bearing 29. On the rear side of this gear 35 and formed integrally therewith is an engaging disc 37 having a flat engaging portion 36 formed on its periphery. Betweenthe wall 15 and the bearing 29 is rotatably mounted the pinion 39 meshing with said gear 35. The middle of the crooked oscillating piece 41 having the engaging pawl 40 engaging with this pinion 39 is mounted at the rear side of the wall 15 with the shaft 42, and on the oscillating piece 41 is provided the spring 43 pressing the pawl 40 against the pinion 39.

At the rear side of said boss portion 28 is projected the pin 44 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7. When the handle 17 is brought, said pin 44 presses down the upper end of the oscillating piece 41 down as shown in FIG. 3 to disengage the pawl 40 from the pinion 39.

The rack 45 meshing with the lower portion of said pinion 39 as shown in FIG. 4 is slidably mounted on the guide rail 46 on the base plate 11 as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. At the end of this rack 45 is provided the restoring spring 47 which is compressable when the rack 45 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 3. At the rear side of said boss portion 28 is disposed the pin 48, and on the front side of the gear 35 facing this pin is formed an arc-shaped oblong groove 49 in which said pin 48 is loosely fitted.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, at the front side of said rail 46 is disposed the reciprocating rod 50 parallel with said rack 45. A heater 51 for melting the tape is projected from the right front side of this reciprocating rod 50. Said heater is projected from the gap at the lower right side of the wall to the right side of the press head 16. This heater 51 is formed by covering a heat resistance insulating plate projected to the right front side of the reciprocating rod 50 with nichrome sheet folded on the upper and lower sides thereof. The width of the heater corresponds with that of the lower side of the press head 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, at the left end of said reciprocating rod 50 is formed the bifurcated portion 52. In this bifurcated portion 52 is journaled the roller 53, and lug 54 to engage with said roller 53 is provided at said boss portion 28. At the right rear side of said reciprocating rod 50 is projected the engaging piece 55 engaging with the right end of the rack 45 as shown in FIG. 2, and a cushion spring 57 is provided between the reciprocating rod 50 and a projection 56 at the right end of the base plate 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

On the left end of the bearing portion 58 comprising the heat resistance insulating body fixed on the right front side of the wall 15 is disposed the fusing heater 59 having an upward-blade shape. At the right side of the press head 16 is arranged the pressing plate 60 vertically movable in a given range and pressed downward by a spring. This pressing plate 60 is lowered during sliding to the left side of said heater 59 when the press head 16 is descending, and has the same width as that of the heater 59.

A sliding member 62 is disposed on the base plate 11, said member 62 being biased rightward by a spring 61 so that the righthand end thereof is positioned below the press head 16 when the press head is elevated. As a result, the sliding member 62 stops the press head at a distance from the base plate when the press head is lowered, and when the heater 51 is moved toward and below the press head 16, the edge of the heater pushes the sliding member 62 from the under side of the press head 16 to allow the press head to descend further.

In the center of the upper side of the base plate 11 is arranged the transformer 63. At the intermediate of the circuit to the primary coil of this transformer 63 is inserted the switch 64 and in the secondary circuit is inserted in series said heaters 51 and 59.

At the rear side of the handle 13, on the base plate 11 is disposed a supporter 65. On this supporter 65 is secured the case 66 of a time adjusting device. From the side of said case 66 is formed a recessed cylinder 67. The front portion and rear portion of this cylinder 67 communicate with a communicating port 68. In a portion of this communicating port 68 is arranged the throttle valve 69. This throttle valve 69 is a needle valve and the male screw 70 at the upper portion thereof is threaded in the screw threaded hole in the frame 71 fixed on the case 66. A conical portion at the point of the throttle valve 69 adjusts the opening of the valve port 73 communicated with the cylinder 67. The throttle valve 69 is fitted loosely in the longitudinal hole 78 disposed in the case 66 and the locking spring 77 is also disposed in the longitudinal hole 78. Over the longitudinal hole is provided the seal 77.

In said cylinder 67 is slidably fitted the piston 74. The piston rod 75 secured to the front center of the piston 74 passes through the center of the seal 76 closing the opening of the cylinder 67 and is projected outside of the case 66 and is directed to said engaging disc 37. Between the piston rod 75 and the disc 37 is interposed a cam rod 80.

Said cam rod 80 consists of the long rotary body 83 having shaft 82 at both ends thereof. Rod 80 is rotatably joumalled on the wall 15 and the bearing 81 secured on the base plate 11 at the rear side thereof. The cam rod 80 also has the pawl 84 contacting the piston rod 75 and the pawl 85 contacting said cam 37. At the rear portion of said cylinder 67 is disposed a spring 86 pressing the piston rod 75 against the pawl 84. A suitable operating oil is filled in the front and rear portions of said cylinder, the communicating port .68, the longitudinal hole 78 and the like. Moreover, at the rear side of the wall 15 is disposed a stopper 87 for the handle 17 as shown in FIG. 3. And also, in the base plate 11 right under the roller 12 is embedded the skid stopper 89 which has a plural knurls on its surface.

The operation of the first embodiment abovementioned is as follows.

The base plate 11 is rested on the objective package, and the handle 17 is turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1. Then the pin 32 of the boss portion 28 is fitted in the horizontal groove above the recess 31 and the press head 16 is pulled up. The handle 13 is then also turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1. As a result, the roll 12 is pulled up. One end portion (a) of the thermal plastic synthetic resin tape 88 wound on the package is then rested on the front portion of the base plate 1 1 from the right end of the front portion of the base plate 11 (the right end of the front portion of the base plate 11 is terminated near the lower portion on the right side of the press head 16) and is projected under the roll 12, and the other end portion (b) of the tape 88 is passed between the under side of the roll and said end portion (a) from the left side of the front portion-of the base plate 11, under the press head 16 and is pulled out rightward on the heater 59 and then is inserted in the inserting groove 19 of the tape winder 18.

Then, the handle 13 is returned to lower the roll 12 and the handle 23 is oscillated transversely while pressing the end portions (a) and (b) of the tape 88 overlapped each other against the skid stopper 89 on the base plate 11. The main shaft 21 and the tape winder 18 are moved intermittently in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by the ratchet mechanism 22 to wind up the end portion (b) of the tape 88. Thereupon, as the lower end portion (a) is pressed against the uneven press head 16.

portion on the skid stopper 89 where it is held, the end portion (b) slides on the end (a) and is pulled toward the winder 18. Since the roll 12 is turned only in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by the ratchet mechanism 14 and can not be turned in the reverse direction, the package is securely bound with the tape 88 even when a fairly strong tension is applied to the tape 88. The tape 88 cannot be loosened by reverse motion of the end portion (b) of the tape 88..

When the handle 17 is turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, the pin 48 of the boss portion 28 integral with the handle 17 presses the end of the oblong hole 49 of the gear 35 and turns the gear 35 together with the boss portion 28. This also turns the pinion 39 meshing therewith in the direction of thearrow in FIG. 3, and then moves the-rack 45 meshing with said pinion 39 in the same direction. As a result,.the restoring spring 47 is compressed and the engaging pawl 40 of the oscillating piece 41 is engaged with the pinion 39 and interrupts the restoration of the rack 45 by the restoring spring 47. I

The engaging disc 37 integral with the gear 35 is turned to the position indicated with a dot-and-dash line in FIG. 3 and the flat engaging portion 36 thereof is projected to the lug 85 of the cam rod 80. Said lug member 84 is inclined as shown in the do't-and-dash line in FIG. 3 and piston rod 75 pressing against the lug 84 with the spring 86 is advanced towards the lug 84.

Moreover, the opening of the valve port 73 is previously adjusted with the throttle valve 69, corresponding to the tape to be used.

'And, electric current is fed to the heaters 51 and 59 to generate heat when the switch 64,is pushed.

In the state abovementioned, since the pin 32 of the boss portion 28 has gone over the dead point in the horizontal groove 90, the pressing force of the compression spring 34 holds the handle 17 in the position indicated with a dot-and-dash line in FIG, l'through the horizontal groove'90 and the pin 32. When the handle 17 is turned slightly clockwise, the pin 32 is returned press head 16 is lowered further and presses the end portion (b) against the heater 51 and the heater 51 is pressed against the end portion (b).

By the operation abovementioned, the end portions (0) and (b) are held together against the heater 51, and the sides facing each other of the end portions (a) and (b) are melted.

When the handle 17 is further turned from the position abovementioned, the lug 54 is disengaged from the roller 53, and then the pin'44 of the boss portion 28 pushes the oscillating piece 41 and disengages the engaging lug from the pinion 39. When the pinion 39 is released, the rack meshing therewith is restored by the restoring spring 47. Thereby, the pinion 39 meshing with said rack and the gear 35 meshing therewith are reversed, but thereupon, as the engaging portion 36 of the disc 37 integral with the gear 35 is returned from the position indicated with a dot-and-dash line to the position indicated with a full line in FIG. 3,

said engaging portion 36 turns while pushing the engaging member 80 located in the position of the dot-anddash line in FIG. 3 toward the piston rod 75.

When the, piston rod 75 is pushedas abovementioned, the piston 74 compresses the oil in the rear portion of the cylinder bore 67. The compressed oil flows into the front portion of thecylinder 67 through the communicating port 68. As the oil passes through the valve port 73 throttled with the throttle valve 69, the quantity of oil flowing into the front portion of the cylinder 67 is regulated. Consequently,the piston rod 75 is moved with a speed proportional to the throttling rate of the valve port 73 by the throttle valve 69. Similarly, said disc 37 is also slowly, turned with a speed proportional to the throttling rate of the valve port 73, and

the rack 45 is slowly restored.

back over the dead point and presses the lower edgeof the horizontal groove 90 downward causing the compression spring 34 to lower the press head 16. In addition, the spring 38 acting on the handle 17 applies a downward force to the press head 16 through the pin 32. Thereby, the lower side of the press head 16 and the pressing plate 60 press down the end portion (b) of the tape 88 and fuse the tape 88 with the heater 59. With fusing of the tape 88, the press head 16 is lowered rapidly, and therewith the handle 17 and the boss portion 28 are restored rapidly, but thereupon, the lug 54 of the boss portion 28 engages the roller 53 and rapidly moves the reciprocating rod leftward in FIG. I. The heater 51 integral therewith is thereby projected under the end (b) of the tape 88 being pressed down by the When the press head 16 is beinglowered, initially the lower end thereofis lowered until it strikes against the sliding body 62 in FIG. 1, and thereby the heater 51 is projected between the end portions (0) and (b) while a sufficient gap is retained between the end portion (b) of the tape 88 being pressed down by the press body 16 and the end (a) on the base plate-11. When the handle. 17 is further turned and the heater 51 is projected further, then the sliding body 62 is pushed leftward in FIG. 1 with the front edge of said heater 51 and is separated from the lower end of the press head 16. As a result, the

When the engaging disc 37 is turned slowly. as abovementioned and the flat engaging portion 36 thereof passes over the lug 85 of the engaging member and the lug reaches the periphery of the disc 37, as the disc 37 becomes more freely rotatably, then it starts to turn more rapidly and returns quickly the rack 45 through the gear 35 and the pinion 39. When the rack 45 is returned as abovementioned, the rear endof said rack 45 engages the engag'ing'lug 55 at the rear end of said reciprocating rod 50 and returns the reciprocating rod 50 to its original position. The heater 51 is thereby from betweenthe end portions (a)and (b), the surfaces of the end portions (a) and (b) in the melted state are then pressed by the press head 16 and are welded together.

Thereafter, the roll 12 is raised by turning the handles 13 and 17 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and at the same time the press head 16 rises. Then the pressing force applied to end portions (0) and (b) of the tape 88 is released and the base plate 1 1 is removed from the package.

In the first embodiment as above described, the time for pulling out the heater 5l'from the portions (a) and (b) is adjustable by the opening rate of the port 73 adjustable by rotating the screw 70. Therefore the heating time of the opposite surfaces of the tape is adjustable and the most suitable time can be set according to thickness and composition of a tape to be used.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 9 will be described. The parts having the same construction and operation as those in FIG. 1 to FIG.

4 are indicated with the same reference numbers and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In this second embodiment, instead of the the throttle valve 69, the piston 74 and the cylinder 67, a disphragm mechanism is used. At the rear of the mounting portion of the handle 13 on the base plate 11 is secured a guide member 91 as shown in FIG. 8. On the oblique guide rail 92 arranged on this member 91 is slidably fitted a sliding frame 93. As a result, the sliding frame 93 is made slidable along the guide rail 92. On the upper portion of the supporting piece 95 fixed at one end of this sliding frame 93 is secured a diaphragm case 96 with the fixing bolts 135.

In said diaphragm case 96 is stretched a diaphragm 97 made of a soft material such as a rubber sheet and or the like. In the center of this diaphragm 97 is provided a communicating port 98 as shown in FIG. 11, and at the outside thereof are formed arc-shaped oblong holes 99 and 100. Said oblong hole 99 extends almost throughout the periphery of a circle concentric with the communicating port 98. The oblong hole 100, however, is shorter than that of said oblong port 99. Accordingly, the disc 101 lying inside the oblong ports 99 and 100 can be moved to-and-fro around the connecting portion 102 as the fulcrum.

Both sides of the central portion of said diaphragm are made of a hard material such as metal or the like. The diaphragm is held between circular stiffening plates 103 and 104 and said stiffening plates 103 and 104 are fixed to the slender shaft 106 at the inner end of the reciprocating rod 105.

The surface of said stiffening plate 103 contacting the diaphragm 97 is flat and is larger than the outside diameter of the oblong ports 99 and 100. Said plate also has a hole 107 in its center for loosely fitting .the shaft 106 a packing 108 closing the clearance between the hole and the shaft is laid between the inner end of the reciprocating rod 105 and the stiffening plate 103.

- In said stiffening plate 103 is provided an air port 109 located in a position covered by the disc 101 of the diaphragm 97 and also exposed from the periphery at the inner end portion of the shaft 106. A small groove 110 communicating with this air port 109 and said port 107 is formed in the diaphragm 97 side of the stiffening plate 103. The peripheral edge of said stiffening plate 104 has a ridge 111 of an arc-shaped section toward the which presses the diaphragm 97 against the stiffening plate 103 at the outside edges of said oblong holes 99 and 100. A hole 1 12 in the center of the stiffening plate 104 is fixed to the end of said shaft 106 by caulking, or the like and between said shaft 106 and the port 98 is afforded a clearance. Consequently, between the stiffening plates 103 and 104 is formed the space 113 holding the central portion of the diaphragm 97 therebetween, and a plurality of communicating ports 114 communicating with this space 113 are formed in the stiffening plate 104. Said reciprocating rod 105 is slidably fitted in the guide cylinder 115 formed in the diaphragm case 96. The outer end of the reciprocating rod 105 contacts the inner side of the oscillating body 117 pivoted on shaft 116 on the upper portion of said sliding frame 93. A projection 118 is formed on the upper portion of the outside of the oscillating body 117. This projection 1 18 protrudes toward the gear 35 as shown in FIG. 6, and is to be engaged with the engaging pawl 1 19 secured on the rear 35 as shown in FIG. 8. Element 120 is a frame fixed on the side portion of said sliding frame 93. To the upper end thereof is connected the transverse bar 121 lying over the oscillating body 117 as shown in FIG. 9. Transverse bar 121 is provided with an oblong hole 122. Operating shaft 125 is rotatably mounted on the upper piece 124 of the supporting frame 123 bent so as to be projected over the transverse piece 121 passing from the lower portion of said sliding frame 93 through the side of the frame 120. On the upper end thereof is fixed the knob 126. An eccentric shaft 127, disposed at the lower end of the shaft 125, is loosely fitted in said oblong hole 122, and the sliding frame 93 is made to be slidable along the guide rail 92 through the transverse piece 121 and the frame by sliding the eccentric shaft 127 in the oblong hole 122. This is accomplished by turning the shaft with the knob 126.

In said transverse piece 121 is threaded a screw which has its lower end in contact with the inclined portion of the front edge of said oscillating body 117. This forms the stopper 128 preventing the transverse piece 121 from inclining forward. And a spring 131 for preventing the shaft'125 from spontaneously rotating is mounted in a case 129 so as to press against acollar 130 of the shaft 125.

The operation of the second embodiment abovementioned will now be described. Similar to the operation of the first embodiment, the base plate 11 is rested on a package and the roll 12 and the press head 16 are raised by turning the handles 13 and 17 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5. The end portions (a) and (b) of the tape 88 wound around the package are inserted between the base plate 11 and the roll 12 so as to overlap the portion (b) on the portion (a), the portion (b) passing through the underside of the press head 16 and the upper side of the receiving plate 58 to be inserted in the slot 19 of the winding roll 18.

Then the handle 13 is returned to lower the roll 12 to press the'overlapped tapes to the plate 89 and the handle 23 is turned to rotate the roll 18 to compress the tape around the package. I

At the time abovementioned, the handle 17 is inclined as shown with a dot-and-dash line in FIG. 5, and the rack 45 is moved leftward compressing the restoring spring 47 the pinion 39 is engages the pawl 40 of the oscillating piece 41 so the rack 45 can not be retreated. The engaging pawl 119 provided on the gear 35 is engages with the pawl 118 as shown in FIG. 8. Electric current is fed to each heater 51 and 59 on pushing the switch 64 to generate heat.

When the handle 17 is returned slightly, similar to the case of the first embodiment, the press head 16 is lowered, and when the end portion (b) of the tape 88 is fused by the heat of the heater 59, then the press body 16 is lowered rapidly. At the same time, the handle 17 is returned rapidly, whereupon the lug 54 of the boss portion 28 rapidly turns the roller 53, the reciprocating rod 50 is advanced and the heater 51 integral therewith is also advanced toward the space between both end portions (a) and (b) of the tape 88. Thereupon the lower end of the press head 16 is supported by the sliding body 62.

When the heater 51 is projected further, the sliding body 62 is pressed by the front edge of the" heater S1 and is parted from press head 16. The press head 16 is lowered further and presses the end portion (b) and (a) on the upper and lower sides of the heater respectively and melts the surfaces thereof which are facing each other. 1

When the handle 17 is turned further from the position abovementioned, the lug 54 is parted from the roller 53. Then, when the pin 44 of the boss portion 28 presses the oscillating piece 41, the engaging lug 40 is parted from the pinion, thereupon this pinion 39 is released. Consequently, the rack 45 tends to rapidly reverse the pinion 39 and the gear 35 beyond the operation of the spring 47. However, since the engaging lug 119 integral with the gear 35 is engaged by the pawl 118, the gear can not be turned. However, the engaging lug 119 quick-1y presses the pawl 118 with the rotating force afforded to the gear 35 by the spring and the like, thereby a rotating force in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8 is afforded to the oscillating body 117, and the reciprocating rod 105 is quickly pressed by this oscillating body 117.

- When the reciprocating rod 105 is pressed quickly in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 10, the stiffening plates 103 and 104 connected with this are also moved together with the diaphragm 97 and the air in the right chamber 132 within the'diaphragm case 96 is compressed and the pressure of the air is increased. But, since the right chamber 132 communicates with to the space 113 inside the stiffening plate 104 through the communicating port 114, the pressure within the space 113 is quickly increased, and the disc 101 adheres closely to the stiffening plate as a result of the pressure. However, since the space 113 communicates with the left chamber 133 within the case 96 from the clearance between the shaft 106 and the diaphragm 97 and the ports 98 and 107 of the stiffening plate 103 through the small groove 110 and the air port 109, when the pressure in the right chamber 132 is increased by pressing the diaphragm 97 rightward as abovementioned, the air in the right chamber 132 flows slowly into the left chamber 133, thereby, the reciprocating rod 105 pressed by the oscillating body 117 is pressed slowly into the case 96.

When the oscillating body 117 is disengaged from the engaging pawl 119, the gears and 39 are released and the rack 45 is returned back vigorously by the restoring spring 47. Similarly to the case of the first embodiment, the rear end of the rack 45 engages with the engaging piece 55 at the rear end of the reciprocating rod 50 and draws out the heater 51 which is integral with the reciprocating rod 50 from between the end portions (0) and (b). The melted; surfaces of the end portions (0) and (b) are welded by the pressure of the press head 16.

Meanwhile, as abovementioned, when the pawl 118 and the engaging pawl 1 19 are disengaged, the oscillating body 117 and the reciprocating rod 105 are restored by the pressure of the compressed air in the right chamber 132 and the restoring force of the diaphragm 97. At this time the air in the left chamber 133 presses the disc 101 to open the air port 109, enters the space 113, and flows rapidly from the space 113 into the right chamber 132 through the communicating port 114, the reciprocating rod 105 is returned quickly.

Thereafter, the handles 13 and 17 are turned in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 5 and the roll 12 and the press head 16 are elevated. Then the packaging machine is removed from the package.

In the abovementioned second embodiment, the heating time of the tape is defined byfthe time when the engaging pawl 119 commences to press the pawl 118 to the time when the pawl 118 is disengaged from the engaging pawl'119. This time interval may be adjusted by turning the eccentric shaft 127 with the knob 126 to move the frame 120 together with the sliding frame 93 through the oblong hole 122 and regulating the engagement of the pawl 118 with the engaging pawl 119.

FIG. 12 to FIG. 14 show a modification of a pressing device for pressing the end portions of the tape.

In FIG. 12, in a recessed portion formed at the right side of the front portion of the base plate 11 is pivotally mounted about the shaft the left end of a tape holding pawl 151. The surface on the right side of said recessed'portion'150 is formed to have an inclined surface 153, the lower side of which is retracted as shown in FIG. 12. The front end surface 154 of said holding pawl 151 is inclined to coincide with said inclined surface 153 when it is positioned parallel to toward the inclined surface 153. This front end surface 154 is also made uneven. In addition, when the front end surface 154 contacts the inclined surface 153, the upper surface of the holding pawl 15] becomes flush with the upper surface of the base plate 11. A rotating force counterclockwise (from the front) is afforded to the holdingpawl 151 by a spring 155. I

On the base plate 11 at the rear side of the upper portion of said recessed portion 150 is mounted a supporting member 156. At the upper portion near the left end of the front surface of the supporting member 156, the upper end of a tape reversion preventing pawl 156 is povotally mounted on a shaft 158. The lower end surface 159 of this reversion preventing pawl 157 is formed so that the lower end surface of the reversion preventing pawl 157 coincides with the upper surface of the base plate 11 when the end surface is slightly to the right. The surface also is made rough to serve as skid stopper as shown in FIG. 12.

A spring 160 is provided for the reversion preventing pawl -157 for biasing the same clockwise.

.' In the middle of said supporting member 156 is rotatably mounted a transverse shaft 161. The rear end of this shaft 161 projects rearwardly and the lower end of a handle 162 is fixedly secured thereto.

At the front of the member156 is provided the circular recessed hole 163 concentric with the front end portion of said shaft 161. In the recessed hole is loosely fitted a gear 164 fixed to the front end of said shaft 161.

At the lower portion of the front surface of said supporting member 156 is formed a longitudinal recess 165, a portion of the upper side thereof and said recessed hole 163 communicating with each other. The lower portion of said gear 164 projects into the recess 165.

Upwardly disposed in the recess 165 is a rack 166 which is longitudinally slidable and which meshes with said gear 164. In the lower surface of this rack 166 is formed a recess 168 into which a projection 167 formed at the rear portion of the upper surface of said holding pawl 151 is fitted. A lug 169 is provided at the front of the right end of said rack 166 and the rear portion of said reversion preventing pawl 157 is pressed by this lug 169. At the left end of said supporting member 156 is disposed a stopper 170 for preventing the rack 166 from going out.

In the device abovementioned, when the handle 162 is turned leftward from the position of the full line to that of the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 12, the gear 164 is turned counterclockwise. The rack 166 meshing therewith is moved rightward and the lug 169 inserted in the recess 168 of the lower portion thereof is pressed downward with the lower surface of the rack 166. The holding pawl 151 is turned downward as shown with the dot-and-dash line in FIG. 12. In addition, the inclined surface of the recess 150 and the front end surface 154 of the pawl 151 are separated and the lug 169 at the left end of the rack 166 presses the back portion of the reversion preventing pawl 157 rightward This creates a clearance between the lower end surface 159 and the upper surface of the base plate 11 as shown with a dot-and-dash line in FIG. 12.

Next, the handle 17 is turned leftward to raise the press head 16, and the one end portion (a) of the tape 88 wound around a package is inserted between the slant 153 of the recess 150 and the end face 154 of the pawl 151 through the underside of the press head 16. The other end portion (b) travels from the left side of the base plate 11 to the roll 18 through the clearance between the pawl 157 and the base plate, through the clearance between the press head 16 and the base plate 11, overlaps the portion (a) and the upper side of the receiving plate 58 and is inserted in the slots 19 of the roll 18.

When the handle 162 is returned to the position shown at the solid line in FIG. 12 to reverse the gear 164 to return the rack 166 to the position shown in the solid line in FIG. 12, pawls 157 and 151 are released from pressing the projection 169 and the rack 166, respectively.

Then, the handle 23 is operated to rotate the roll 18 and thereby the end portion of the tape 88 is wound up to bind the packing. Thereupon, the end portion (b) is pulled rightward under the lower portion of the reversion preventing pawl 157. But since said pawl 157 can be turned freely rightward, there is no obstacle against rightward movement of the end portion (b). When the end portion (b) tends to move leftward, the lower side 159 of the pawl 157 pressed against the end portion (b) with the elastic force of the spring 60 strikes the end portion (b) to prevent it from moving back. With the binding of the tape 88, the end portion (a) is pulled rightward, and thereby the end portion (a) between the front end surface 154 of the holding pawl 151 and the inclined surface 153 of the recess 150 is pulled upward. Thus, the front end surface 154 of said pawl 151 is held to the end portion (a), and the end portion (a) is held securedly.

Accordingly, the tape 88 is bound strongly, thereafter and similarly to'other embodiments, the end portions (a) and (b) are firmly joined with operation of the handles 17 and 23 and the switch 64.

After the portions (a) and (b) are adhered together by turning the handle 17 rightward, the handle 162 is turned leftward again and the rack 166 is moved rightward to release the pawls 151 and 157 from pressing the portions (a) and (b), and the handle 17 is turned leftward to raise the press head 16. Then the machine is removed from the package.

What is claimed is:

l. A packaging machine comprising a base plate and a means for holding the overlapped ends of a thermoplastic tape wound around a package by pressing the tape to said base plate, a press head and means for moving said press head up and down for pressing the opposite faces of said overlapped tape ends against a heater inserted therebetween and for pressing the tapes melted by the heater to adhere together after the heater is retreated, a means for projecting said heater between the overlapped tapesbelow the press head during the downward movement of said press head, rack means for retreating said heater, said rack means being slidably mounted on said base plate, a handle having a gear meshing with said rack means for sliding said rack means and spring means for biasing said rack toward the retreating direction of said heater, a slidable rod carrying said heater and engageable with said rack when said rack is moved toward said rod, and an adjustment means for controlling the gear meshing with said rack, said gear being adapted to rotate freely from the handle when said tapes with the heater inserted therebetween are pressed together by said press head, whereby said rack is moved toward said rod by the action of said spring means and engages said rod so as to cause said heater to retreat.

2. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a cylinder having a piston and a piston rod spring-biased toward said gear meshing with said rack, a path communicating the forward and rear chambers of said cylinder and a throttle valve provided in said path, a disc provided integrally with said gear and contacted by said piston rod, said valve being capable of adjusting the opening of said path, whereby the braking force of the piston against the gear is controlled by the throttle valve.

3. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a diaphragm type pneumatic cylinder having a piston and piston rod connected with a diaphragm, said diaphragm partitioning said cylinder into two chambers, a pawl integral with said gear, an intermediate rocking cam contacting both said pawl and said piston rod, and a means for moving said cylinder toward the cam, whereby the braking force of said piston against said gear is controlled by moving the cylinder toward or away from said cam.

4. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second heater is provided adjacent said press head for cutting off said tape in cooperation with the downward movement of said press head.

5. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means for holding said. tape ends comprises a roll having knurls thereon, and a ratchet mechanism connected with said roll to prevent the reverse rotation of said roll, said roll being adapted to be elevated to make a clearance between said base plate and to be lowered to press said tape ends to the base plate.

6. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means for holding said end portions of said tape comprises a first pawl for holding one end portion of said tape, said pawl being pivoted and springbiased so as to make one end thereof contact the upper surface of said base plate, a second pawl for holding the other end portion of said tape, said second pawl being pivoted in a recess formed on one side of said base plate and being spring-biased to make one end thereof contact the side wall of said recess, and a means for forcing said first pawl up and said second pawl down to make a clearance between the respective contacting faces for inserting the respective end portions of said tape.

7. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a means is provided for winding one end portion of said tape to constrict said tape around a package, said means comprises a rotatable roll having a transverse slot thereon for inserting the tape end therein, a ratchet mechanism connected with said roll to prevent reverse rotation thereof, and a handle for rotating said roll. v

8. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stopper means slidable on said base plate and spring-biased toward the press head is provided at the opposite side of said heater, said stopper being adapted to stop said press head so as to provide a clearance suf- 14 ficient for said heater to project below said press head and further adapted to be pushed away by the edge of said heater projected below said press head.

9. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein a support plate is provided adjacent said press head for mounting said second heater and a pressing element for holding the tape end to be out between the support plate is provided adjacent said press head, said pressing element being adapted to be elevated and lowered in accordance with the vertical movement of said press head. 

1. A packaging machine comprising a base plate and a means for holding the overlapped ends of a thermoplastic tape wound around a package by pressing the tape to said base plate, a press head and means for moving said press head up and down for pressing the opposite faces of said overlapped tape ends against a heater inserted therebetween and for pressing the tapes melted by the heater to adhere together after the heater is retreated, a meAns for projecting said heater between the overlapped tapes below the press head during the downward movement of said press head, rack means for retreating said heater, said rack means being slidably mounted on said base plate, a handle having a gear meshing with said rack means for sliding said rack means and spring means for biasing said rack toward the retreating direction of said heater, a slidable rod carrying said heater and engageable with said rack when said rack is moved toward said rod, and an adjustment means for controlling the gear meshing with said rack, said gear being adapted to rotate freely from the handle when said tapes with the heater inserted therebetween are pressed together by said press head, whereby said rack is moved toward said rod by the action of said spring means and engages said rod so as to cause said heater to retreat.
 2. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a cylinder having a piston and a piston rod spring-biased toward said gear meshing with said rack, a path communicating the forward and rear chambers of said cylinder and a throttle valve provided in said path, a disc provided integrally with said gear and contacted by said piston rod, said valve being capable of adjusting the opening of said path, whereby the braking force of the piston against the gear is controlled by the throttle valve.
 3. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said adjustment means comprises a diaphragm type pneumatic cylinder having a piston and piston rod connected with a diaphragm, said diaphragm partitioning said cylinder into two chambers, a pawl integral with said gear, an intermediate rocking cam contacting both said pawl and said piston rod, and a means for moving said cylinder toward the cam, whereby the braking force of said piston against said gear is controlled by moving the cylinder toward or away from said cam.
 4. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a second heater is provided adjacent said press head for cutting off said tape in cooperation with the downward movement of said press head.
 5. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means for holding said tape ends comprises a roll having knurls thereon, and a ratchet mechanism connected with said roll to prevent the reverse rotation of said roll, said roll being adapted to be elevated to make a clearance between said base plate and to be lowered to press said tape ends to the base plate.
 6. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said holding means for holding said end portions of said tape comprises a first pawl for holding one end portion of said tape, said pawl being pivoted and springbiased so as to make one end thereof contact the upper surface of said base plate, a second pawl for holding the other end portion of said tape, said second pawl being pivoted in a recess formed on one side of said base plate and being spring-biased to make one end thereof contact the side wall of said recess, and a means for forcing said first pawl up and said second pawl down to make a clearance between the respective contacting faces for inserting the respective end portions of said tape.
 7. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a means is provided for winding one end portion of said tape to constrict said tape around a package, said means comprises a rotatable roll having a transverse slot thereon for inserting the tape end therein, a ratchet mechanism connected with said roll to prevent reverse rotation thereof, and a handle for rotating said roll.
 8. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein a stopper means slidable on said base plate and spring-biased toward the press head is provided at the opposite side of said heater, said stopper being adapted to stop said press head so as to provide a clearance sufficient for said heater to project below said press head and further adapted to be pushed away by the edge of said heater projected below said press head.
 9. A packaging machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein a support plate is provided adjacent said press head for mounting said second heater and a pressing element for holding the tape end to be cut between the support plate is provided adjacent said press head, said pressing element being adapted to be elevated and lowered in accordance with the vertical movement of said press head. 